There is no place for hooliganism in football (Sports opinion)

The Sunday top-of-the-table clash between Bantu and Lioli at Setsoto Stadium was nearly spoiled by a moment of madness from the Mafeteng based side’s supporters who decided to throw missiles onto the pitch.

The reason being their dissatisfaction towards the referee of the day, Osias Koto, who many football fanatics felt had a bad game.

This is the same referee who officiated the high profile friendly match between South Africa and World Champions Spain on Tuesday.

This is very simple. Bantu supporters and fans in general need to learn that the referee’s decision is final, period.

Throwing objects onto the field will not influence an official’s decision nor change the outcome of the match.

Such behaviour is totally unacceptable especially at a time when our football is in such a mess.

The country is less than two weeks away from hosting the Cosafa Under-20 tournament. We do not need to tarnish our image when the world is watching. Why wash your dirty linen in public?

The club’s management under John Leuta has done a tremendous job to make the team a force to reckon with and surely they won’t allow a few reckless individuals to smudge the image of the club and the nation.

On the field of play, I think the best team won at the end of the day.

Lioli remains at the top of the table, but a lot of work lies ahead as they are the side that is preparing to represent Lesotho in the 2013/14 Caf champions league.

As predicted in this column last week, Lekhanya Lekhanya was always going to be itching to prove something against his former team and he showed he means business by scoring the opening goal of the match.

I also mentioned the threat that was going to come from the in-form winger, Hopolang Mohlalefi, who scored the equalising goal for Bantu. The exciting Qoaling-born winger replicated a previous weekend’s stunner against LDF with yet another brilliant goal to help his team complete a double over their rivals having beaten them in the final of the Independence Top4 tournament over a month ago.

It is certain that we are going to have an interesting battle for the league title between these two teams.

My guess is, the title will go down to the wire. Well, one cannot go without mentioning the upcoming Lesotho Football Association (Lefa) special meeting set for Saturday.

While the association seems to be only interested in punishing those that have questioned their leadership abilities, I wish to appeal to the Lefa president, Salemane Phafane to do what is right for football and put emotions aside.

Our football has been marred by just so much controversy over the last two years and it is high time that they put their house in order and employ mechanisms that will make Lesotho a football force.

We all saw the potential we have at this year’s regional Senior Cosafa tournament that was held in Zambia.

The fact that our national team has shown so much potential in recent months but continues to struggle to get friendly matches reflects heavily on Lefa’s shortcomings.

Something needs to be done to rectify such flaws in our football governing body, ASAP.

Lesotho Times

Lesotho's widely read newspaper, published every Thursday and distributed throughout the country and in some parts of South Africa.

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